Email | Phone: 310-206-8962

Julie Sina formally and officially became UCLA’s Associate Vice Chancellor for Alumni Affairs in December 2013 after serving in an interim capacity since February of that year, during which, she demonstrated remarkable leadership skills that allowed for a creative and concerted transformation of the entire Alumni program. In partnership with the UCLA Alumni Association Board, Julie has overseen the adoption of a new alumni engagement model that has refocused alumni activity around regional and international work, young alumni involvement, attention to affinity and diversity networks, the continuum from student recruitment to career development and closer ties to alumni efforts in the professional schools and College It should come as no surprise that Julie’s long and deep career in Student Affairs and Board leadership prior to her arrival at UCLA evolves naturally into the realm of alumni engagement and Association partnership. Indeed, Julie’s blue and gold spirit and true Bruin values, coupled with her special talent for aligning many moving parts within a common vision made her the standout candidate. Julie served as Chief of Staff supporting the deans and the College prior to joining External Affairs. In addition to Alumni Affairs, Julie leads the Advancement Services division and serves as C.F.O. and C.O.O for the UCLA Foundation and UCLA Investment Company. Julie earned her Ph.D. at Virginia Tech and in addition to Virginia Tech has served the University of Florida, University of the Pacific, Iowa State and University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.   

Julie currently serves as President of the Council of Alumni Association Executives and is the CASE Alumni Commission

Email | Phone: 310-490-0915

Kayla Albano serves as a director with the Student Alumni Programs & Family Engagement team, which provides resources and programming that engage the full lifecycle of the Bruin experience including students, alumni and parents/families. Specifically, Kayla oversees the UCLA Parent & Family Association, which is committed to helping parents and families support their student’s journey at UCLA and create their own Bruin experience along the way.

 Kayla is a Southern California native, holding a B.A. in political science from California State University, Fullerton, and an M.A. in student affairs administration from Michigan State University. Before joining the UCLA Alumni Association team, Kayla held roles in residence life at Michigan State University and Loyola Marymount University, through which she worked peripherally with the parents and families.

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Email | Phone: 310-825-3983

Christel Aragon joined UCLA Alumni Travel in 1994 and assumed the position of Director of Travel in 1999. UCLA Alumni Travel offers 50 educational tours serving approximately 1,000 travelers annually. Christel strongly believes in lifelong learning through travel, and is persistently searching for ways to make the offerings more educational, unique and a good fit for UCLA’s alumni, family and friends. UCLA faculty are featured on more than 50 percent of the tour offerings. She is a member of the Educational Travel Community Executive Advisory Council, and is considered a leader in the non-profits for travel industry.

Christel was born in Stockholm, Sweden, and she has more than 25 years of experience in the travel industry.

arenberg@support.ucla.edu

Email | Phone: 310-825-8657

Email | Phone: 310-560-7639

Email | Phone: (310) 206-8968

Joseph Blancas serves as an assistant director for the Alumni Career Engagement team, which focuses on the development and implementation of large-and small-scale career programs for alumni and students. He currently oversees programs, such as the UCLA Alumni Mentor Program, the Career Coaches webinar series and other niche professional development programs and initiatives for alumni. Joseph also serves as the staff liaison for our Bruin Professionals network. His prior experience at UCLA Alumni Affairs includes providing administrative and general programmatic support for the UCLA Spirit Squad and the Student Alumni Association.

Joseph earned a bachelor of arts degree in gender studies from UCLA in 2014. During his time at UCLA, he served three years on UCLA’s Spirit Squad. Joseph also served on the Spirit Squad’s student leadership team, as the Mascot Coordinator, Junior Spirit Squad coach, Special Events Program Assistant and Cheer Squad Captain.

Email | Phone: 310-983-1293

Email | Phone: 310-206-0622

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Advancement Services | Employee & Organizational Engagement | Contributing Writer, Alumni Affairs

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Email | Phone: 310-206-0410

Anthony Cube is Director of Alumni Marketing and Communications. He is the chief editor for the all-alumni e-newsletter Connect@UCLA, and responsible for student and young alumni marketing in addition to alumni career programs, sponsorships and volunteer opportunity communications.

Prior to joining UCLA, Cube worked for the Josephson Institute of Ethics as an educational programs manager. He was responsible for coordinating and marketing nationwide training seminars for a character education program called CHARACTER COUNTS!

Cube graduated from University of California, Irvine with a bachelor’s degree in political science.

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Joseph (Seph) Duong joins UCLA as Director of Marketing, External Affairs. Before joining UCLA, Seph was Director of Marketing and Communications for the Japanese American National Museum (JANM) in Los Angeles. In addition to overseeing staff, Seph was responsible for leading the translation of institutional vision into a results-oriented communications program across platforms, with an emphasis on digital strategies. He led the internal and external planning, development, and implementation of the museum's marketing and social media strategies, digital communications, and public relations activities. Seph also raised awareness for JANM by generating high-level media coverage of leadership, new strategic direction, new projects and exhibitions, and the announcement of major gifts. Seph earned a B.A. in Communications at California State University, Fullerton, and studied English Literature at Brookes Oxford University, Oxford, U.K. Seph loves the great outdoors and enjoys listening to and playing music.

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Email | Phone: 310-794-5189

Estellaleigh Franenberg joined UCLA Alumni Affairs in June 2000 as member services manager specializing in high-level customer service, campus and community relations, and volunteer recruitment. She credits those daily interactions with constituent audiences for invaluable insights into the rich diversity of experience and thought within UCLA. That, combined with a strong background in creative and journalistic writing, informed Franenberg’s work when in 2007 she became a Director of Marketing and Communications, managing the marketing for affinity, professional and regional networks, special projects and campus partnerships.

Promoted to Creative Director in 2014, her title changed to Senior Director of Alumni Marketing & Creative Engagement in 2019. In addition to the aforementioned duties, Franenberg now also supervises the marketing team and collaborates with University Communications and Advancement Services to deploy new business intelligence. She manages the development of integrated and innovative strategies to disseminate event, program and university news to alumni, students, faculty, staff, parents, and other partners and stakeholders to increase university engagement, participation and philanthropy. Franenberg is also honored to be a certified reader for UCLA Admission.

Franenberg has participated in the UCLA Professional Development Program, True Blue Toastmasters, the Inaugural AMG (Administrative Management Group) ProShare initiative and earned UCLA’s Management Development Certificate. Early in her career she participated in UCLA’s prestigious Management Skills Assessment Program and returned to the program as an assessor to help guide talented managers within the UC system in 2019. She has received numerous merit-based recognitions including an External Affairs Achievement Award for exceptional leadership. In 2019 her original idea for Alumni Day Online, which engaged thousands of Bruins at one time in a specially created website, won the top national and international award in its category from CASE, the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. She is a proud Aztec, having earned a bachelor’s degree in theater arts from San Diego State University. Franenberg is an equally proud Life Member of the UCLA Alumni Association.

Email | Phone: 310-206-8968

ggorden@support.ucla.edu

Senior Director, Alumni Administration

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khguzman@support.ucla.edu

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Email | Phone: 310-794-7526

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Email | Phone: 310-206-0523

Gloria Ko serves as the senior director for Alumni Career Engagement leading career initiatives for alumni and students. She and her team aim to engage all alumni in meaningful ways to further and add value to the UCLA degree in the workplace. She currently oversees programs, such as Partnership UCLA /Alumni Career Programs, Alumni Mentor Program, UCLAONE and other career and professional development programming. Her prior experience at UCLA Alumni Affairs includes leading Young Alumni Engagement and the Student Alumni Association.

Gloria serves on the board of directors for the CASE District VII Board. She is also an active member of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, and has served on faculties for the Young Alumni and Student Engagement Institute. Gloria graduated in 2006 with a bachelors in communication studies and in 2007 with a M.Ed. in counseling in student affairs.

Email | Phone: 310-339-8683

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Email | Phone: 310-983-1291

mmarshall@support.ucla.edu

Email | Phone: 310-825-4853

Karen McClain came to Alumni Affairs with more than 27 years of previous experience in accounting and finance. Her strengths include the ability to apply accounting, finance and business information to analyze administrative and financial operations, and skill assessing organizational efficiency and effectiveness.

Previously, McClain was a credit union examiner for the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA). Prior to joining NCUA, she held various positions in the credit union industry including controller, vice president of finance and chief executive officer.

A graduate of UCLA, McClain holds a Bachelor of Arts in economics. She also earned a Master of Business Administration from the University of Southern California.

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Gabriela Meza '20 is the Program Coordinator for UCLA Alumni Diversity Programs & Initiatives.

She is part of UCLA’s work to create an inclusive and equitable space for diverse alum to come together and share space and resources for the betterment of their communities. As a first-gen, low-income graduate, Gabriela’s work is concentrated in grassroots advocacy and political organizing. Gabriela has worked for the National Park Service through the Latino Heritage Internship Program to increase park access for Spanish speakers in Los Angeles. Gabriela also worked at the UCLA Downtown Labor Center helping to raise funds to address the most critical issues facing working people today through research, education and policy work. Gabriela hopes to continue to create opportunities to connect with diverse alum across all generations to create a truly inclusive Bruin community.

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Email | Phone: 310-794-3437

Sandy Nguyen graduated from UCLA in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in cultural anthropology.  Since September 2013, she has served as the Assistant Director for UCLA Young Alumni Engagement, focusing on providing support services, events, outreach and a customized experience for UCLA’s young alumni. Prior to joining the Young Alumni and Student Engagement team, Nguyen worked with the UCLA Parent and Family Programs team as a program coordinator.

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Senior Director, Diversity Programs & Initiatives

Dr. Denise Pacheco is first and foremost an educator and creative writer. She comes from an immigrant, farm-working family that constantly affirms the importance of serving the community. Dr. Pacheco is a double Bruin, earning both her M.A. and PhD at UCLA. After completing her Ph.D. in Urban Schooling, Dr. Pacheco directed a writing counseling program for UCLA undergraduates in the Community Programs Office and then transitioned to working in the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Office and the Dean of Student Office. In these roles she adjudicated student conduct cases, co-supervised the conduct team, facilitated professional development training for staff in relation to issues of equity and diversity, and developed signature events and initiatives to strengthen the university community and improve campus climate. This includes reimagining and co-directing the Chancellor’s new student welcome for all new undergraduate students, This is Bruin Life, and serving as co-lead of the Chancellor’s Leadership, Innovation, Networking and Knowledge (LINK) program, a cross-campus collaboration designed to facilitate student leadership development, dialogue across lines of difference, and organizational analysis. As a writer, educator, and social dreamer, Dr. Pacheco believes in our infinite potential to continuously work towards a world that is just, equitable, and compassionate towards all forms of life.

Email | Phone: 310-486-2715

As director of Affinity Networks, Janette Palacios engages with UCLA's “legacy” groups (Affiliates of UCLA, Gold Shield Alumnae and Prytaneans), and student activity-based groups (Alumni Band, Daily Bruin Alumni Network, First Gen Alumni Network, Transfer Student Alumni Network and Veterans' Alumni Network (VetNet)), among other campus-based entities.

Prior to joining Alumni Affairs, Janette worked for the City of Alhambra where she was a project manager for over 15 years.  Janette was also the president of the UCLA Latino Alumni Association and was a founding member of the UCLA Alumni Beachside Network.

Janette is a double Bruin, with a bachelor's degree in sociology with a specialization in Chicana and Chicano Studies and a master's degree in urban planning.

Email | Phone: 310-825-3148

As the Assistant Director of Alumni Travel, Suz Park Ramirez processes and coordinates travel for more than 50 different tours around the world, provides administrative and financial support, and is in the process of developing a young alumni travel program. Previously, she was the travel coordinator with Alumni Travel. In that role Park coordinated bookings and confirmation packets for nearly 1,000 travelers annually. She also managed the Via Tour travel database, evaluations, host and faculty expenditures, and pre-departure meeting logistics. Park has served as a tour director on in-house cultural programs and is familiar with a majority of the tour offerings. Prior to her work with Alumni Travel, she was a teacher with Teach for America, serving in the South Central community of Los Angeles.

Park is a graduate of UCLA with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a minor in education. As a student, she was a member of the Student Alumni Association for three years and served on the board of directors during her senior year.

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Cory Rosas (he/him) serves as the Associate Director for UCLA Alumni Diversity Programs & Initiatives where he supports the sustainable development of UCLA’s 12 alumni diversity networks and signature social justice programs of UCLA Alumni. Prior to UCLA, Cory served as a Communications Fellow in Los Angeles Mayor, Eric Garcetti's Office of Immigrant Affairs where he helped develop communication strategies to reach the millions of immigrants that call Los Angeles home while uplifting new Americans through Garcetti's New Americans Initiative. Cory has developed skills in volunteer management through his time as an AmeriCorps CalServes Fellow with 2-1-1 Orange County and with the National Park Service Intermountain Regional Office as a Centennial Urban Outreach Fellow. Cory earned his bachelor's degree in Political Science from UCLA with a minor in film, television and digital media and certification in Sustainability from UCLA Extension.

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Email | Phone: 310-825-9661

Christina Ruiz is the Internship Specialist with Partnership UCLA and the Career Center. Her role is designed to enhance collaborative efforts between Partnership UCLA and the Career Center. Ruiz’s role involves working with the UCLA College/Sharpe Fellows Program, which helps connect students with top internship opportunities, and working directly with alumni as employers who are looking to recruit top UCLA talent. Her work advances the internship and experiential needs of all UCLA students and focuses on the top industries of interest to students and Alumni.

Before joining the Alumni Affairs team, Ruiz spent ten years serving in progressive roles within the UCLA Career Center, coordinating recruitment events, leading training for their customer service team, and managing a major revenue program through UCLA’s Letter of Reference and Credentials service.

Ruiz holds a B.A. in psychology from UCLA.

mseleshi@support.ucla.edu

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Program Coordinator for ACE

csmith@support.ucla

310.968.0399

asork@support.ucla.edu

Email | Phone: 310-869-8727

Jacob Sproul supports various alumni networks such as Boston, Channel Islands, Chicago, Inland Empire, Michigan, New York, Orange County and Washington D.C., as well as other emerging networks. In his role, he works with alumni leaders around the nation to connect and engage Bruins through a variety of community service, social and networking events.

In addition, Jacob also supports the Future Bruin Initiatives program, which strives to provide meaningful engagement opportunities for alumni world-wide to interact with prospective, admitted and incoming students, while also building a positive community for all members of the Bruin family. This includes all incoming and current students, parents, alumni and other UCLA supporters.

Sproul has a Bachelor of Science in Journalism from Central Michigan University and a Master of Arts in Educational Administration & Leadership from University of the Pacific.

Email | Phone: 310-794-6229

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lvanligten@support.ucla.edu | 310-648-2126

Lexi is a proud UCLA Alumni, class of 2020, and has a wealth of experience in fast-paced organizations covering everything from data management to social content strategy and community engagement efforts.  She originally hails from the technology, publishing, and entertainment industries, and is thrilled to return home to her alma mater.  Go Bruins!

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Loren Vevaina supports various alumni networks such as Arizona, Colorado, Downtown Los Angeles, Monterey, San Fernando Valley, San Francisco, Silicon Beach, Texas and Westside Los Angeles, as well as other emerging networks. In her role, she works with alumni leaders around the nation to connect and engage Bruins through a variety of community service, social and networking events.

Prior to joining Alumni Affairs, Loren worked at the UCLA School of Law. She served as president of the UCLA Westside Alumni Network and as a regional partnerships committee member of the UCLA Young Alumni Development Council.

Loren graduated with a bachelor of arts in sociology and a minor in education.

Executive Director, Alumni Engagement Innovation

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hzises@support.ucla.edu

310-825-8318